Quick fact: The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) was created by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to investigate flood-control anomalies. But critics argue that having a body created by the presidency investigate matters involving the President’s son, Sandro Marcos, and first cousin, Martin Romualdez, creates an unavoidable conflict of interest.
ICI’s creation and why it matters
The ICI was established through Executive Order No. 94. You can read the official announcement from the Presidential Communications Office here:
Because the commission was created directly by the President, concerns intensified when names close to Malacañang entered the public conversation regarding flood-control spending anomalies.
Who are the political figures under scrutiny?
- Sandro Marcos — the President’s son and House Majority Leader. Profile: Wikipedia
- Martin Romualdez — the President’s first cousin and former Speaker of the House. Background: AP News
Why the conflict-of-interest accusation exploded
An investigative body is expected to be independent. But the ICI’s structure raises questions such as:
- Can it truly investigate powerful political figures aligned with the President?
- Will sensitive findings be omitted or softened?
- Will evidence involving political allies be deprioritized?
These questions intensified after civil society groups called for a separate, independent probe. See full report: Reuters: Groups demand fully independent investigation
What the investigations have revealed so far
- Thousands of flood-control projects flagged as incomplete, substandard, or overpriced.
- Contract clustering showing suspicious patterns in certain regions.
- Public frustration over misuse of national funds and lack of transparency.
Why public trust is collapsing
Even if the ICI does its job honestly, the fact that it answers to the President — while the President’s son and cousin are politically linked to the issue — undermines credibility. Public confidence depends not only on neutrality, but the appearance of neutrality.
What accountability advocates demand
- Independent third-party observers
- Public release of raw audit data
- Oversight by non-aligned legislators
- Close coordination with the Ombudsman and DOJ for legal action
The bottom line
The ICI can reveal the truth — but only if it distances itself from political influence and opens its work to public and third-party scrutiny. Until then, the public will continue to doubt the legitimacy of an investigation created by the same administration whose own family members are in the spotlight.
